Wilson takes opener from Wayne County

WILSON -- If Wayne County is going to make it out of the first round of the American Legion Area-I playoffs then it will have to win the next two nights.

The post-season opener did not go as planned for Post 11.

Wilson Post 13 scored in six of its eight at-bats en route to a 10-3 victory at historic Fleming Stadium on Monday night.

Wilson claimed a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. The two teams will meet again tonight for the second game of the series at Scarborough Field.

"Those guys can really swing the bats and tonight they beat us all the way around," Wayne County head coach Rob Watt said. "We got behind in a bunch of counts early and when we did Wilson took advantage by using the hit-and-run and being aggressive."

Post 13 took the lead in the bottom of the first inning when Zach Lee walked, Mitchell Wheeler singled and Zach Houchins delivered a sacrifice fly. Wilson added three additional runs in the second inning when a pair of singles from Cody Britt and Michael McLawhorn were compounded by a Wayne County error.

Post 11 pulled within 4-1 in the top of the third when Cody Davis reached on an error and Kevin Wise replaced him at first base on a fielder's choice. Tyler Edwards delivered a double and Adron Hollowell pushed a run across with a single.

Wilson broke the game open in the bottom of the third with three insurance runs.

David Gibbons singled, Parker Lamm reached on a fielder's choice and Britt delivered a single. Lee plated two runs with a triple and McLawhorn belted a sacrifice fly.

That spelled the end of the night for Wayne County starter Josh Frederick who suffered his first defeat of the legion season.

"There have been a few nights where the team hasn't been great but Josh has been really good," said Watt. "Tonight he wasn't sharp and that meant the defense needed to be that much better behind him, and it wasn't."

Trailing 8-1 in the top of the fifth inning Wayne County (15-7 overall) tried to get back into contention.

Tyler Edwards singled and was followed by a base hit from Hollowell. Zack Mozingo drew a walk as Edwards scored on a passed ball. McGee plated Hollowell with a single that capped the scoring for Post 11.

McLawhorn entered the game to pitch for Wilson and halted any thoughts of a potential Post 11 rally. The lanky right-hander tossed four innings to close the contest.

Lee earned the mound win by allowing three runs over five innings.

"Our guys came in tonight and were around the strike zone," Post 13 head coach Rusty Dail said. "Both guys kept the ball down and we made some big plays defensively behind them once we got the lead."

Wayne County will hope to get back on track tonight during the only home game of the series. If a third game is need to decide the set, it will be played at Hunt High School on Wednesday night.

"We have 27 outs to get it together and play like we are capable," said Watt. "We still have a few bullets in our pitching rotation, so we are going to have to eliminate mistakes if we want to advance."